Container For Vacuum Packing

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a container for vacuum packing, which is constructed so that food is laid on a base panel of the container, and air is easily drawn from an interior to an open end of a vacuum bag, thus allowing food or the like to be easily and hygienically vacuum packed. The container includes a base panel ( 100 ) to be put into a vacuum bag, with an item to be packed being laid on the base panel. A front panel ( 140 ) is provided at a front position of the base panel, and air holes ( 162 ) are formed on the front panel.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a container for vacuum packing, whichis put into a vacuum bag while containing food in the container. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a container for vacuumpacking, which is constructed so that food is laid on a base panel ofthe container, and air is easily drawn from an interior to an open endof a vacuum bag, thus allowing food or the like to be easily andhygienically vacuum packed.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, vacuum bags are used to vacuum pack and store food or thelike. When a user desires to vacuum pack food using a vacuum bag, thefood is put into the vacuum bag. Afterwards, air is drawn from thevacuum bag and an open end of the vacuum bag is sealed by a vacuumpacking apparatus. Some of the conventional vacuum bags do not haveembossments. However, in order to smoothly create a vacuum in a vacuumbag, vacuum bags with embossments have been widely used.

One conventional type of vacuum bag is disclosed in Korean PatentLaid-Open Publication No. 92-0700998, which has embossments and istitled “apparatus for vacuum sealing plastic bags”. As shown in FIG. 1,embossments 25 are formed on an inner surface of a bag 21. Thus, when anitem is vacuum packed, an air discharge path is defined by theembossments 25. The bag is evacuated and heat sealed by the vacuumpacking apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 2.

In a detailed description, the conventional vacuum packing apparatus 20includes a base 32 and a hood 33. A vacuum chamber 34 is defined betweenthe base 32 and the hood 33. The vacuum packing apparatus also includesa vacuum pump (not shown) to draw air from the vacuum chamber 34, and asealing means 50 to heat seal an open end of the bag 21.

When the bag 21 containing an item is vacuum packed using theconventional chamber-type vacuum packing apparatus, the item is put intoa storage space defined in the bag 21. The open end of the bag 21 isplaced in the vacuum chamber 34. Next, the hood 33 is pressed over thebase 32, so that the vacuum bag and the vacuum chamber are sealed.Thereafter, when a predetermined switch is pressed, the vacuum pumpoperates. In response to the operation of the vacuum pump, a vacuum iscreated in the vacuum chamber 34 and the bag 21. In such a state, theopen end of the bag 21 is heat sealed by the sealing means 50. As shownin FIG. 1, the embossments 25 are formed on the inner surface of the bag21, thus allowing air to be smoothly exhausted from the bag 21.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, the conventional vacuum bag with the embossments is problematicin that the embossments must be directly formed on the bag, so that abag manufacturing process is complex. Further, since the vacuum bag isheat sealable, the bag must be made of a relatively thin material, suchas polyethylene or polypropylene. However, the thin material is weak, sothat it is tom easily. Thus, it is difficult to directly form theembossments on the bag made of the weak material. This increasesmanufacturing costs of the vacuum bag. Further, the embossments may bebroken by a pair of rollers that is heated during the manufacturingprocess, thus resulting in a defective product.

According to the prior art, food to be vacuum packed is held in thevacuum bag, so that several operations are required to put the food intothe bag, thus causing inconvenience to a user. Especially, when watercontained in the food covers the open end of the vacuum bag, it isimpossible to perfectly heat seal the bag. Further, it is complicated totake the vacuum packed food out of the vacuum bag. In the case ofstoring the vacuum packed food in a freezer, juice of the food mayadhere to the vacuum bag while the food is frozen.

In addition to the above-mentioned problems, the conventional vacuumpacking method is problematic in that food held in the vacuum bag maymove, so that it has an undesirable appearance and is unhygienic.Further, when two or more kinds of food items are put into the vacuumbag, the food items may undesirably mix with each other.

Technical Solution

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind theabove problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the presentinvention is to provide a container for vacuum packing, which allows anitem to be vacuum packed, such as food, to be put into a vacuum bag atone time, and which has a front portion allowing air to be easily drawnfrom an interior to an open end of the bag, thus allowing a vacuum to beeasily created in the vacuum bag.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container forvacuum packing, which has a juice storage trough at a position around abase panel so that juice from the food is collected in one place, thusallowing the food to be stored sanitarily, and which allows the food tobe naturally divided into solids and juice during the storage of thevacuum packed food, thus being convenient to use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a container forvacuum packing, which is constructed so that the length of a base panelis adjustable, thus allowing the length of the base panel to be adjustedaccording to the amount of food.

In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention providesa container for vacuum packing, including a base panel to be put into avacuum bag, with an item to be packed being laid on the base panel, anda front panel provided at a front position of the base panel, with anair hole formed on the front panel.

Preferably, a lower guide panel extends outwards from a position underthe air hole to a predetermined position and an upper guide panelextends outwards from a position above the air hole to a predeterminedposition.

Embossments are provided on the base panel to define an air dischargepath, and a juice storage trough is provided at a position around thebase panel.

Further, the base panel is adjustable in length.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a conventional vacuum bag with embossments;

FIG. 2 shows a conventional vacuum packing apparatus;

FIG. 3 shows a container for vacuum packing, according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a container for vacuum packing, according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows the state where an item is vacuum packed using thecontainer of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a container for vacuum packing, according to the thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a container for vacuum packing, according to thefourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 shows the state where an item is vacuum packed using thecontainer of FIG. 9.

MODE FOR INVENTION

A better understanding of the present invention may be obtained throughthe preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, a container for vacuum packing includes a basepanel 100, a left panel 110, a right panel 120, a rear panel 130, and afront panel 140, with a cover 170 provided on the container to close thecontainer. Further, air holes 162 are formed on the front panel 140. Anupper guide panel 160 extends outwards from a position above the airholes 162 to a predetermined position, and a lower guide panel 161extends outwards from a position under the air holes 162 to apredetermined position.

As shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable that the container of thisinvention have the cover 170. Preferably, sliding grooves 113 and 123are provided along the left and right panels 110 and 120, respectively,and left and right edges 171 and 172 of the cover 170 are slidablyinserted into the sliding grooves 113 and 123 to cover the container.Such a cover prevents a vacuum bag from being stained with food when thecontainer is inserted into the vacuum bag.

Thereby, the vacuum bag is more reliably heat sealed.

Preferably, a juice storage trough 150 is provided at a predeterminedposition on the container, as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, juice or the likefrom the packed food flows into the juice storage trough 150, so thatthe juice is collected in one place.

As shown in FIG. 3, the air holes 162 are bored in the front panel 140of the container. The upper guide panel 160 extends outwards from theposition above the air holes 162 to the predetermined position, and thelower guide panel 161 extends outwards from the position under the airholes 162 to the predetermined position.

The upper and lower guide panels 160 and 161 function to open an openend of the vacuum bag 190. The air holes 162 formed on the front panel140 serve as an air path, which allows air to flow from an interior ofthe container through the open end of the vacuum bag 190 that is openedby the upper and lower guide panels 160 and 161. As such, a vacuum canbe more easily created in the vacuum bag 190 due to the upper and lowerguide panels 160 and 161 and the air holes 162. Further, it ispreferable that the upper and lower guide panels 160 and 161 togetherserve as a container handle.

Unlike the construction of FIG. 3, the length of the cover 170 or anupper cover 173 may be extended such that the cover 170 or the uppercover 173 protrudes forwards from the front panel 140. Such aconstruction allows the cover 170, 173 to serve as the upper guide panel160.

The container for vacuum packing according to this invention may be madeof plastics. Further, the container may comprise a disposable containerusing Styrofoam or an environmentally friendly material, such as pulp.

The use of the container according to this invention is as follows. Foodto be packed is put into the container. The container containing thefood therein is inserted into the vacuum bag 190. Thereafter, a vacuumis created in the vacuum bag 190 and the vacuum bag 190 is heat sealedby the vacuum packing apparatus of FIG. 2. In this way, the vacuumpacking operation is finished.

Second Embodiment

FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate the second embodiment of the present invention.

The container of the second embodiment is constructed so that the lengthof a base panel is adjustable, thus allowing the size of the containerto be varied according to the amount of food to be packed. For thelength adjustment of the base panel, the base panel of FIG. 4 comprisesan upper base panel 101 and a lower base panel 102. Further, the upperbase panel 101 slides over the lower base panel 102.

As shown in the drawings, sliding grooves 116 and 126 (hereinafterreferred to as ‘sliding grooves for length adjustment’) are provided onleft and right panels 112 and 122 of the lower base panel 102. Further,sliding flanges 115 and 125 are provided on left and right panels 111and 121 of the upper base panel 101 so that the sliding flanges 115 and125 are slidably fitted into the sliding grooves 116 and 126 for lengthadjustment. Further, sliding grooves 114 and 124 (hereinafter referredto as ‘sliding grooves for an upper cover’) are provided inside thesliding flanges 115 and 125 so that left and right edges 174 and 175 ofan upper cover 173 are fitted into the sliding grooves 114 and 124 forthe upper cover.

As shown in FIG. 4, sliding grooves 117 and 127 (hereinafter referred toas ‘sliding grooves for a lower cover’) are provided on the left andright panels 112 and 122 of the lower base panel 102 so that left andright edges 177 and 178 of the lower cover 176 are slidably fitted intothe sliding grooves 117 and 127 for the lower cover. However the slidinggrooves 116 and 126 for length adjustment may be formed to serve as thesliding grooves 117 and 127 for the lower cover. For example, thesliding flanges 115 and 125 and the lower cover 176 may be inserted intothe sliding grooves 116 and 126 for length adjustment.

That is, the sliding flanges 115 and 125 may be inserted into thesliding grooves 116 and 126 for length adjustment, and the lower cover176 may be placed on the sliding flanges 115 and 125.

Preferably, a juice storage trough 150 is provided at a predeterminedposition of the container, as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, juice or the likefrom packed food flows into the juice storage trough 150 so that thejuice collects in one place.

Further; air holes 162 are formed on a front panel 140 of the containerfor vacuum packing. An upper guide panel 160 extends outwards from aposition above the air holes 162 to a predetermined position, and alower guide panel 161 extends outwards from a position under the airholes 162 to a predetermined position.

The upper and lower guide panels 160 and 161 have the same function asthose of the first embodiment.

The container for vacuum packing according to this invention may be madeof plastics. Further, the container may comprise a disposable containerusing Styrofoam or an environmentally friendly material, such as pulp.

The use of the container according to this invention is as follows. Asshown in FIG. 6, food to be packed is put into the container. Thecontainer containing the food therein is inserted into the vacuum bag190. Thereafter, a vacuum is created in the vacuum bag 190 and thevacuum bag 190 is heat sealed by the vacuum packing apparatus of FIG. 2.In this way, the vacuum packing operation is finished.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 7 shows the third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, a container for vacuum packing according to thisinvention includes a base panel 100, and embossments comprisingprotuberances 181 and depressions 182 are formed on the base panel 100.The embossments may be formed on only an inner surface of the base panel100, like the protuberances 181. Further, the embossments may be formedon only an outer surface of the base panel 100, like the depressions182. Preferably, the embossments are formed on both the inner and outersurfaces of the base panel 100. According to the present invention, foodor the like is placed on the inner surface of the base panel 100. Thus,the embossments must be formed on the outer surface of the base panel soas to reliably provide an air path when air is drawn from the vacuumbag.

When the container includes panels 110, 120, 130, and 140 as shown inFIG. 7, it is preferable that embossments be formed all over thecontainer, including inner and outer surfaces of the panels 110, 120,130, and 140.

The embossments may comprise protuberances 181 and depressions 182having semicircular cross-sections, as shown in FIG. 7. However,embossments of any cross-sectional shape are possible, as long as theembossments provide an air path to allow air to be smoothly drawn fromthe vacuum bag 190 during the evacuation of the vacuum bag 190.

In comparison with the process of forming the embossments on the vacuumbag, the process of forming the embossments on the container is simplerand reduces a rate of defective products. When the container having theembossments is used, it is easier and more sanitary to vacuum pack food.Further, since the container of this invention is capable of using acheap vacuum bag 190 having no embossments, for example, a commonplastic film bag, the costs of vacuum packing an item are reduced.

Preferably, as shown in FIG. 7, a juice storage trough 150 is providedat a predetermined position on the container, thus allowing juice or thelike from packed food to flow into the juice storage trough 150 and becollected in one place. If the embossments 181 are formed on an innersurface of the base panel 100, a juice path communicating with the juicestorage trough 150 is defined, thus allowing the juice to be moreefficiently collected in a predetermined place.

More particularly, as shown in FIG. 7, the container for vacuum packingalso includes a front panel 140 which is positioned at a front positionof the base panel 100, with air holes 162 formed on the front panel 140.An upper guide panel 160 extends outwards from a position above the airholes 162 to a predetermined position, while a lower guide panel 161extends outwards from a position under the air holes 162 to apredetermined position. As shown in the drawing, it is preferable thatembossments be formed on both surfaces of each of the upper and lowerguide panels 160 and 161.

The upper and lower guide panels 160 and 161 function to open an openend of the vacuum bag 190. The air holes 162 formed on the front panel140 serve as an air path that allows air to flow from the containerthrough the open end of the vacuum bag 190 which is opened by the upperand lower guide panels 160 and 161. A vacuum is more efficiently createdin the vacuum bag 190 by the upper and lower guide panels 160 and 161and the air holes 162.

The container for vacuum packing according to this invention may be madeof plastics. Further, the container may comprise a disposable containerusing Styrofoam or an environmentally friendly material, such as pulp.

The use of the container for vacuum packing according to this inventionis as follows. The container is put into the vacuum bag 190 whilecontaining food to be packed therein. Thereafter, a vacuum is created inthe vacuum bag 190 and the vacuum bag 190 is heat sealed by the vacuumpacking apparatus of FIG. 2. In this way, the vacuum packing operationis finished.

Fourth Embodiment

FIGS. 8 to 10 show the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the length of a base panel is adjustable, sothat the size of a container is adjustable according to the amount offood to be packed. For the length adjustment of the base panel, as shownin FIGS. 8 and 9, the base panel of the container comprises an upperbase panel 101 and a lower base panel 102. Further, the upper base panel101 slides over the lower base panel 102. Preferably, as shown in FIGS.8 and 9; a front end of the lower base panel 102 is inwardly bent toprovide a flange 186, and a rear end of the upper base panel 101 isoutwardly bent to provide a flange 185. The flanges 185 and 186 preventfood juice from spilling out of the container, in addition to preventingthe upper base panel 101 from being undesirably detached from the lowerbase panel 102.

More particularly, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the container for vacuumpacking also includes a front panel 140 that is positioned at the frontof the base panels 101 and 102. Air holes 162 are formed on the frontpanel 140, with an upper guide panel 160 extending outwards from aposition above the air holes 162 to a predetermined position, and alower guide panel 161 extending outwards from a position under the airholes 162 to a predetermined position. The upper and lower guide panels160 and 161 are equal to those of the third embodiment. The containerfor vacuum packing according to this invention may be made of plastics.Further, the container may comprise a disposable container usingStyrofoam or an environmentally friendly material, such as pulp.

The use of the container for vacuum packing according to this inventionis as follows. The container is put into the vacuum bag 190 whilecontaining food to be packed therein. Thereafter, a vacuum is created inthe vacuum bag 190 and the vacuum bag 190 is heat sealed by the vacuumsealing apparatus of FIG. 2. In this way, the vacuum packing operationis finished.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the present invention provides a container forvacuum packing, which is put into a vacuum bag while containing food tobe packed in the container, thus allowing a vacuum packing operation tobe sanitarily and easily executed, and allowing a vacuum to be easilycreated in the vacuum bag.

Further, a juice storage trough is provided at a predetermined positionaround a base panel to collect juice or the like from food in one place,thus allowing the food to be sanitarily stored, and allowing the juiceto naturally separate from the food during the storage of the vacuumpacked food, therefore being convenient to use.

A container for vacuum packing according to this invention isconstructed so that the length of a base panel is adjustable, accordingto the amount of food to be vacuum packed.

Further, embossments are formed on a container, thus allowing a vacuumto be easily created in a vacuum bag having no embossments.

According to the present invention, embossments are provided on acontainer, so that a manufacturing process is simpler and easier, incomparison with the case where embossments are formed on a thin and weakvacuum bag.

Further, the container of this invention is capable of being used with acommon plastic film bag, so that the costs for a vacuum packingoperation are reduced

1. A container for vacuum packing, comprising: a base panel to be putinto a vaccum bag, with an item to be packed being laid on the basepanel; and a front panel provided at a front position of the base panel,with an air hole formed on the front panel.
 2. The container accordingto claim 1, wherein an embossment is provided on the base panel todefine an air discharge path.
 3. The container according to claim 1wherein a juice storage trough is provided at a position around the basepanel.
 4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the base panel isadjustable in length.
 5. The container according to claim 1, wherein afirst guide panel extends outwards from a position above the air hole toa predetermined position, and a second guide panel extends outwards froma position under the air hole to a predetermined position.
 6. Thecontainer according to claim 2, wherein a juice storage trough isprovided at a position around the base panel.
 7. The container accordingto claim 2, wherein the base panel is adjustable in length.
 8. Thecontainer according to claim 2, wherein a first guide panel extendsoutwards from a position above the air hole to a predetermined position,and a second guide panel extends outwards from a position under the airhole to a predetermined position.